AND HIS DISEASES. 89 



Jtwo ounces of laudanum, should be thrown up, the tail 

 being tied down, and a tight surcingle placed around the 

 loins. He must be kept quiet, and sparingly fed on easily- 

 digested food, to prevent recurrence. 



Sometimes, when neglected, and allowed to ^remain long 

 out, it becomes swollen and dark coloured, when it should 

 be scarified lightly, and washed with dilute laudanum. If cold 

 and black, without feeling, gangrene has set in, and it may 

 be removed, or allowed to drop off. Animals have been known 

 to live with a considerable portion of the rectum removed. 



HEENIA OE EUPTUEE. 



From the natural habits of the horse, and the circum- 

 stances in which he is placed, accidents frequently occur, 

 whereby the walls of the different cavities, contaiaing the 

 delicate organs of the body, are ruptured or burst, allowing 

 the contents to escape out of their natural position. This is 

 what is known as hernia or rupture ; however, the term/ is 

 usually limited to the most frequent form of that protrusion, 

 viz., that from the cavity of the belly, (abdomen.) In scien- . 

 tific works, hernia receives different names, according to the 

 situation of the rupture, or the part protruding, or the patho- 

 logical condition of the part. In all cases, however, it con- 

 sists of the escape of a portion of the gut, either through a 

 natural opening unduly enlarged, or an opening produced 

 by accident. 



Causes. — Eupture is not uncommon in young foals, 

 occurring at the navel-opening, (umbilicus,) either from non- 

 closure after birth, or the cord being stepped upon, tearing it 

 open again, thus allowing the gut to protrude, forming a 

 tumour large or small, according to the quantity of gut that 

 has escaped. It also occurs in the scrotum (bag containing 

 the testicles) in foals at birth. 



